Caladium plant named ‘RFL 2317-114’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘RFL 2317-114’, characterized by its intermediate to tall height, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit and very rapid growth rate; fancy type leaves that are dark green in color with red-colored venation, bright red-colored areas surrounding the veins and salmon pink-colored spots; and above average tolerance to  Xanthomonas  Leaf Spot.

Botanical designation: Caladium×hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘RFL 2317-114’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant, botanically known as Caladium×hortulanum, commercially referred to as a fancy leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘RFL 2317-114’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create new Caladium plants that have uniform plant habit, exceptional container and garden performance and attractive and unique leaf coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2010 in Avon Park, Fla. of Caladium×hortulanum ‘Frieda Hemple’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Caladium×hortulanum ‘Red Flash’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Caladium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. in September, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by ‘chipping’ the tubers (cutting the tuber into segments with each segment containing an axillary bud and tuber cortical tissue) in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. since April, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘RFL 2317-114’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘RFL 2317-114’ as a new and distinct Caladium plant:

-   -   1. Intermediate to tall in height, upright and uniformly mounded         plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit and very rapid growth rate.     -   3. Fancy type leaves that are dark green in color with red-         colored venation, bright red-colored areas surrounding the veins         and salmon pink-colored spots.     -   4. Above average tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf Spot.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘Frieda Hemple’, in leaf color as leaves of ‘Frieda Hemple’ are medium green in color with bright red-colored centers and venation.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘Red Flash’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are shorter than plants of ‘Red         Flash’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium are less apically dominant and are         denser than plants of ‘Red Flash’.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium have a more rapid growth rate than         plants of ‘Red Flash’.     -   4. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Red Flash’ differ in leaf         color as leaves of ‘Red Flash’ have red-colored venation and         interveinal areas with pink and white-colored spots and dark         green-colored borders.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium×hortulanum ‘Postman Joyner’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of ‘Postman Joyner’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Postman Joyner’ differ in         leaf color as leaves of ‘Postman Joyner’ are dark green in color         with bright red-colored centers.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Postman Joyner’ differ in         leaf petiole color as leaf petioles of ‘Postman Joyner’ are         close to black in color.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium×hortulanum ‘Blaze’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of ‘Blaze’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are taller than plants of ‘Blaze’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Blaze’ differ in leaf color         as leaves of ‘Blaze’ are dark green in color with burgundy         red-colored venation and centers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Caladium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Caladium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘RFL 2317-114’ in a container and grown in a shadehouse (tuber not de-eyed).

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a comparison view of typical potted plants of the female parent, ‘Frieda Hemple’ (right), ‘RFL 2317-114’ (center) and the male parent, ‘Red Flash’ (left).

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a comparison view of typical potted plants of ‘Postman Joyner’ (left), ‘RFL 2317-114’ (center) and ‘Blaze’ (right).

The photograph at the top of the third sheet is a comparison view of typical plants of ‘RFL 2317-114’ grown in containers; the plant on the left has not had its tuber de-eyed and the plant on the right has had its tuber de-eyed prior to planting.

The photograph at the bottom of the third sheet is a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘RFL 2317-114’ grown in an open field.

The photograph at the top of the fourth sheet is a close-up view of typical freshly-harvested tubers and roots of ‘RFL 2317-114’.

The photograph at the bottom of the fourth sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘RFL 2317-114’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse (30% light reduction) in Avon Park, Fla. and plants grown in ground beds under full sunlight conditions in an outdoor nursery in Crewsville, Fla. The plants were grown under cultural practices typical of commercial shadehouse and outdoor nursery production. During the production of the shadehouse-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 28° C. to 33° C., night temperatures ranged from about 22° C. to 25° C. and light levels were about 8,000 foot-candles. During the production of the outdoor nursery-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 29° C. to 35° C., night temperatures ranged from about 23° C. to 26° C. and light levels ranged from about 10,000 to 12,000 foot-candles. Plants grown in the shadehouse were eight weeks old (vegetative plant photographs and description) and eleven weeks old (inflorescence photograph and description), and plants grown in the outdoor nursery were eight months old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium×hortulanum ‘RFL 2317-114’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘Frieda             Hemple’, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘Red Flash’,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By “chipping” the tubers.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at             temperatures about 32° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown             plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented and somewhat flattened;             individual segments ovate to round. Height: About 4.8 cm.             Diameter: About 6 cm to 7.7 cm. Segment height: About             3.2 cm. Segment diameter: About 3 cm to 3.5 cm. Axillary             buds, height: About 5 mm. Texture: Thick, starchy. Color:             Epidermis, freshly-harvested: Close to 159A; outer skin,             close to 199A and N199A. Epidermis, dried: Close to 200D.             Cortical tissue: Close to 2D. Axillary buds: Close to 36A to             36B. Root description: Thick, fleshy contractile roots;             color, close to 155C. Rooting habit: Medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant             in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape             plant in shaded areas.         -   Plant and growth habit.—Intermediate to tall in height,             upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; vigorous and             dense growth habit; very rapid growth rate; potted plants in             finished or saleable form in about six to seven weeks after             planting tubers; leaf petioles and leaves arise from one or             more growing points on tubers; petioles mostly upright and             outwardly leaning with development.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane,             shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 35 cm to 43 cm.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of inflorescences,             shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 40.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread, shadehouse-grown potted             plants.—About 45 cm to 51 cm.         -   Number of shoots per plant, shadehouse-grown potted plants,             tubers not de-eyed.—About three develop per #1 tuber.         -   Number of shoots per plant, shadehouse-grown potted plants,             tubers de-eyed.—About three to four develop per #1 tuber.         -   Cataphylls, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Length: About 6             cm to 8.8 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm to 1.8 cm. Shape:             Wedge-shaped. Apex: Acute. Base: Sheathing the stem. Color,             inner surface: Close to 196D; colors and patterns on the             outer surface are visible on the inner surface. Color, outer             surface: Close to N170D tinged with close to 69D, stippled,             streaked and tessellated with close to 147A tinged with             close to 200A; with development, color becoming closer to             199A stained with close to 187B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement and type.—Alternate; simple; fancy-type.         -   Length, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 21 cm to 28             cm.         -   Width, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 14 cm to 21 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate, cordate.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate.         -   Base.—Sagittate to peltate.         -   Margin.—Entire; mostly flat with broad undulations.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Slightly glossy to dull sheen.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Glaucous, dull sheen.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Developing leaves,             upper surface: Midvein and primary veins: Close to 53B             tinged with close to 53A. Secondary veins: Close to 183A             tinged with close to 53B. Areas surrounding venation: Close             to 53B. Interveinal areas: Close to 183A tinged with close             to 53B; spots, close to 51B. Margins: Towards the margins,             close to 147A and 139A; thin margin, close to 187A. Basal             notch: Close to 187A. Developing leaves, lower surface:             Midvein and primary veins: Close to 184B. Secondary veins:             Close to 183C. Areas surrounding venation: Close to 184A.             Interveinal areas: Close to 191A; spots, close to 182D.             Margins: Thin margin, close to 187A. Basal notch: Close to             187A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Midvein and             primary veins: Close to 53A. Secondary veins: Close to 183A             tinged with close to 53A. Areas surrounding venation: Close             to 53B tinged with close to 53A. Interveinal areas: Close to             183A tinged with close to 53A and close to 147A tinged with             close to 189A; spots, close to 51C. Margins: Towards the             margins, close to 147A tinged with close to 189A; thin             margin, close to 187A. Basal notch: Close to 187A. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Midvein: Close to 185B to             185C. Primary veins: Close to 182D. Areas surrounding             venation: Close to 184A. Interveinal areas: Close to lighter             than 187B and close to 191A tinged with close to 189A;             spots, close to 182D. Margins: Thin margin, close to 187A.             Basal notch: Close to 187A.         -   Petioles.—Aspect: Initially upright and straight; with             development, leaning outwardly; flexible. Length,             shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 22 cm to 31.5 cm.             Diameter, distally, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 3             mm to 5 mm. Diameter, proximally, shadehouse-grown potted             plants: About 7 mm to 10 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous;             glaucous. Color, shadehouse-grown potted plants: Close to             181C to 181D densely streaked, stippled and tessellated with             close to 200A tinged with close to 147A; below the leaf and             petiole junction, close to 181A and 181C typically tinged             with close to 53B. Wing length, shadehouse-grown potted             plants: About 5 cm to 8.8 cm. Wing diameter,             shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 8 mm to 12 mm.             Texture, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster,             inner and outer surfaces: Dull to slightly glossy. Wing             color, shadehouse-grown potted plants: Inner surface: Close             to 196D; colors and patterns on the outer surface are             visible on the inner surface. Outer surface: Close to N170D             and 69D, streaked, stippled and tessellated with close to             147A tinged with close to 200A. -   Inflorescence description: Inflorescences observed on eleven     week-old shadehouse-grown potted plants.     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Upright hooded spathes             surrounding a columnar spadix borne on a tall upright scape;             spadix with sessile, simple female and male flowers             separated into two zones; female flowers develop on the             proximal one-third of the spadix; male flowers develop on             the distal two-thirds of the spadix; sterile flowers develop             at junction of female and male flower zones; near this             junction, the spathe constricts and surrounds and encloses             the female flowers; spathe open and cupped around male             flowers.         -   Fragrance.—Night-fragrant; light sweet, jasmine-like with             camphor note.         -   Natural flowering season and flower longevity.—Plants of the             new Caladium typically flower during the spring and summer             in central Florida; flowers develop about eleven weeks after             growth commences; inflorescences last about three days             before fading; inflorescences persistent.         -   Spathe.—Length, overall: About 12.2 cm. Length, distal open             portion: About 8 cm. Length, proximal closed portion: About             4.2 cm. Width, distal open portion: About 3.8 cm. Depth,             distal open portion: About 3.2 cm. Width, at constriction:             About 1.5 cm. Width, proximal closed portion: About 3.2 cm.             Shape: Elliptic to slightly obovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base:             Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, front and rear surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Luster, front surface: Dull sheen. Luster,             rear surface: Glaucous, dull sheen. Color, front surface:             Distal open portion: Close to 155C; margins tinged with             close to 157B; with development, color becoming closer to             199D. Proximal closed portion: Proximally, close to 194C,             194B and 147C; proximally flushed, streaked and mottled with             close to 187A and 187B; margins, tinged with close to 182D;             color does not change with development. Color, rear surface:             Distal open portion: Close to 155B, 155C and areas close to             145D; color does not change with development. Proximal             closed portion: Variably streaked and mottled with close to             147C, 146B and 146C; margins, faintly tinged with close to             182D; color does not change with development.         -   Spadix.—Length, overall: About 9.6 cm. Length, male flower             zone: About 5.6 cm. Length, sterile zone: About 1.9 cm.             Length, female flower zone: About 2.1 cm. Diameter, male             flower zone: About 1.1 cm. Diameter, sterile flower zone:             About 8 mm. Diameter, female flower zone: About 1.1 cm.             Shape: Columnar, spindle-shaped. Apex: Acute to bluntly             acute. Base: Obtuse. Aspect: Upright. Color, mature, male             zone: Close to 158D. Color, mature, sterile zone: Close to             155D. Color, mature, female zone: Close to 155B and 11D.             Male flowers: Quantity per spadix: About 308. Shape:             Obovate. Height: About 3.5 mm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.             Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 8D. Female             flowers: Quantity per spadix: About 280. Shape: Obovate.             Height: About 2.5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma color:             Close to 155B. Ovary color: Close to 11D.         -   Scape.—Length: About 30.9 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Strength: Sturdy; flexible. Aspect: Mostly erect. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Luster: Dull to slightly glossy; glaucous.             Color: Close to 199D and close to 199D tinged with close to             147D; streaked and stippled with close to 200A and 200B and             variably tinged with close to 182D; just below spathe, close             to 147C to 147D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Caladium. -   Disease & pest tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been     observed to have above average tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf Spot     and to have average tolerance to Pythium Root Rot. Plants of the new     Caladium have not been observed to have resistance to pests and     other pathogens common to Caladium plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about     40° C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11. In cooler     zones, tubers can be “lifted” prior to first freeze and stored in a     cool dry environment overwinter for re-planting the following     spring. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘RFL 2317-114’ as illustrated and described. 